Nationwide strike by doctors in Bangladesh shuts down healthcare

DHAKA:

Doctors across Bangladesh began an indefinite nationwide strike on Sunday, causing severe disruption to the country’s healthcare system and leaving patients in dire straits.

The strike was sparked by an incident on Saturday night at the Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), the largest healthcare facility in Bangladesh, where the emergency department was vandalized by relatives and friends of a student protester who had been injured during recent protests that led to the ousting of the Hasina regime. The injured student later succumbed to his injuries, with some of his peers accusing the attending medics of negligence.

In response to the attack and to demand justice and improved security measures, doctors at DMCH suspended emergency medical services on Sunday morning. Attempts by the hospital authorities to negotiate with the doctors were unsuccessful, resulting in the protest escalating into a nationwide strike.

On Sunday afternoon, Dr. Abdul Ahad from DMCH’s Department of Neurosurgery announced the strike, outlining four main demands: the arrest of those responsible for the attack on doctors, the creation of a safer work environment, restrictions on unauthorized access to hospital premises and the resolution. of any alleged negligence by doctors through proper channels and not through force.

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The striking doctors have vowed to continue the shutdown until their demands are met.

The strike has left many patients without care. Nayan Mia, who brought his injured brother to DMCH on Sunday morning, said to seek treatment elsewhere. “If I can’t get healthcare here, where else can I go? I can’t afford treatment in private clinics,” said Mia Anatoliaexpressing the plight faced by many in the wake of the strike.

The protesting doctors said any deaths resulting from the lack of treatment during the shutdown must be attributed to the management’s failure to address their concerns.